Countries across Europe compete for the most desirable place for software developers and suitable occupations. Like many other countries, Austria has an unequal distribution of software developers and a concentration of software developers in a single city, Vienna. Software developers and companies are buzzing all over Europe, from Berlin to London to Paris and Amsterdam. But, Vienna is the primary location for anyone looking for software developers in Europe.
Vienna is at the forefront of technology cities. It is unquestionably one of the most attractive cities in Europe to live in. Historically known for its growing tech scene, first-class transportation system culture and music, Vienna has claimed the title of The Most Liveable City. The city is a considerable alternative for software developers because of its robust IT industry. The industry provides plenty of jobs and infrastructure with various co-working spaces that offer vital support for developers looking for employment opportunities or who want to work on their projects. With more than 6000 tech companies, Vienna generates about €20 billion in revenue. Over 8000 national and international companies in Vienna are accountable for over two-thirds of the country’s total ICT sales.
Programming in Austria is prevalent, and a vast number of developing companies. Therefore, developers ought to possess many skills and capabilities. These skills depend on the work and the programming language used when performing work duties. Due to the enormousness of the Austrian programming market, developers must have high skills in problem-solving, mathematics and accuracy. Much as Vienna is extensively attractive to software developers, it’s not the only tech hub in Austria. Successful tech companies in Graz, Salzburg and Linz cry out for developers’ attention.
AUSTRIA’S TECH SCENE
Vienna is among the top-ranked cities this year in the Startup City Index. Measures like the Vienna Startup package by the Vienna Business Agency have resulted in various tech startups moving to Vienna worldwide. The package is a four-month trip that involves individual business training worth 2,00 Euros.
In 2020, the Austrian capital started a strategy called Vienna 2030 to centre on sectors where the city is achieving considerable success—technology and digitalisation.
The strategy’s objective is to place Vienna as the world’s leader in developing powerful tech innovations. The strategy will make Vienna known for designing and applying tech solutions, sustainability, and comprehensively involving its population in a new era of technology.
Much as Vienna hosts most tech companies in Austria. Graz and Linz are also creating identical mature ecosystems. Therefore, they will try to grab the attention of outstanding developers with better job offers. Successful companies such as SeoCon or Runtastic, the fitness app acquired by Adidas in Linz, prove them right. Such companies act like beacons of hope in a diverse startup scenery.
Austria also has a well-established funding system that helps startups get on their feet. The country put an institution responsible for funding and promoting startups known as The Austrian Research Promotion Agency. The agency is responsible for offering support and strategy development services for decision-makers in the Austrian tech and innovation system. Also, the agency supports and provides consultation to intensify research, technology and innovation in Austria.
THE TOP FIVE TECH COMPANIES IN AUSTRIA
Austria has many skilled and educated developers, that’s why it has made rapid tech advancements over the past years. Also, IT-related vacancies and better working conditions have made Austria the most desirable place for developers. Here are the top five tech companies in Austria that have provided outstanding services to their clients
| Rank | Company Name | Headquarters |
| 1 | Erste Group | Vienna |
| 2 | OMV Group | Vienna |
| 3 | Raiffeisen Bank International | Vienna |
| 4 | Voestalpine | Linz |
| 5 | Vienna Insurance Group | Vienna |
- Erste Group (Now Erste Digital)
Erste Group was established in 1819 as the first Austrian savings bank. It’s a fintech company that offers financial services by utilising technology trends. In 1997, the company went public, and as we speak, it is registered on the exchanges of Vienna and Bucharest.
In August 2008, the company was divided into Erste Group Bank AG the holding company and Erste Bank der österreichischen Sparkassen, the subsidiary.
- OMV Group
The company was founded on July 3rd 1956, and it’s an oil administration stock company. It is an Austrian multinational integrated company specialising in oil, gas and petrochemical products. The company headquarters are based in Vienna and listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. In 1960, the company initiated the Schwechat refinery and entered its first natural gas supply contract in 1968 with the former USSR.
- Raiffeisen Bank International
A former subsidiary of Raiffeisen Zentralbank and the central institution of the Raiffeisen Banking Group Austria. Although the company operates a banking network primarily in central and eastern Europe, it also maintains operations in Western Europe. By the end of 2010, RBI had been of service to over 14 million clients owning about 3,000 branch offices globally.
- Voestalpine
Voestalpine is a capital goods and steel-based technology group found in Linz, Austria. The company deals in automotive, steel and railway systems. The company is one of the few successful steel companies in Europe, and about 45% of its employees are based in Austria. The company is accountable for 10% of all Austria’s CO2 emissions, making it the largest emitter in the country.
- Vienna Insurance Group
With a registered office in Austria, Vienna Insurance Group is one of the biggest international insurance groups in Europe, with over 25,000 workers. The company was founded in 1824 and started expanding all over Europe in the 1980s. Around 1994, the company turned into a corporation, and about 11% of its stock was introduced on the Vienna Stock Exchange.
WORKING IN AUSTRIA AS A DEVELOPER
In Austria, the IT sector has developed significantly, and there are extensive programming companies in the country. Austria has high living standards, and Vienna has become a suitable centre for developers. Austria’s capital Vienna is among the top cities globally, with an average of 80% of software developers. In 2019, based on the state European Tech Report, developers rose from 103,500 to over 109,700 registered software developers. Much as developers in Austria are well-trained and educated. Over the past period, there is an increasing scarcity of skilful workers. Studies convey that 30% of companies in Austria have vacancies and look forward to recruiting foreign workers to take up these positions.
Most developers who have jobs in Austria are more contented than other programmers around the globe. According to surveys, 68% of programmers in Austria are satisfied with their jobs, and about 57% are looking for new and better opportunities. In 2019, Vienna estimated about 8,000 unfilled tech jobs and another 10,000 tech positions related to the ICT sector.
Even though Austria has sensational career opportunities and high-income rates, there is a growing demand for tech experts in other fields such as medicine and a need for data skills, particularly for large enterprises.
DEVELOPER SALARIES IN AUSTRIA
| LEVEL | SALARY RANGE |
| Leading & Management | 80,000 – 150,000+ |
| Senior | 50,000 – 80,000 |
| Mid-Level | 45,000 – 55,000 |
| Junior | 36,000 – 45,000 |
Developers’ salaries are determined not only by their experience but also by their tech stack and role. The company they work for also matters. With all these changing factors, it’s impossible for a developer to know and determine their worth. Developer remuneration in Austria starts at around 36,000 Euro, mounting to 50,000 Euro for mid-level programmers. For senior developers, salary usually ranges from 50,000 euros to 75,000 euros. And for skilled developers and managers, they get about 80,000 Euro plus.
Pay by Experience Level for Software Developers
An entry-level developer with experience of one to three years will anticipate getting an average compensation of 45,000 Euros, including bonuses, tips and overtime pay. A mid-level developer with about 4-7 years of experience receives an average compensation of 55,000 Euros. A senior developer with 8-13 years of experience earns a total payment of 80,000 euros. And finally, a well-experienced developer with knowledge of about 15+ years should expect compensation of 150,000+ euros.
Conclusion
Look at you. You’re already thinking of moving your talent to Austria. Europe’s most significant job marketplace for developers relies on the Vienna ecosystem and its charisma to global tech companies. Almost 68% of developers in Austria are either content or very satisfied with their jobs. Tech companies in Austria are recognised as attractive employers for software developers. This is so because those companies offer handsome compensation for their employees and have good working conditions that’d favour any developer around the globe. However, much as Austria is the most attractive place to a developer, other countries fascinate developers. Countries like Germany and the United Kingdom are also pushing big waves to see that they grab developers’ attention.
